​EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: Mikel Merino #6 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy as they celebrate the World Cup champions at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)FIFA via Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – History, they say, might not necessarily repeat itself. But it certainly can rhyme.Case in point:On July 11, 2010, Andres Iniesta scored off a volley in the 116th minute to boost Spain to its World Cup title, in a 1-0 win over the Netherlands at Soccer City in Soweto, South Africa. Seven minutes prior, Dutch center back John Heitinga received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card.On July 19, 2026, Ferran Torres came off the bench to score off a volley in the 106th minute to lift La Roja to a 1-0 victory over Argentina for its second world championship, at MetLife Stadium. Interestingly, three minutes into second-half stoppage time, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was assessed his second yellow card after a hard foul on center back Pau Cubarsi, at midfield. The defending champions played the rest of the way with 10 men.No doubt that the Spaniards were deserved winners, as they dominated the match from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. They recorded a World Cup record seventh clean sheet of the competition and conceded only once in eight matches. It must be considered the greatest team defensive performance of the 96-year history of the tournament.”I never thought of anything like this,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “I always just wanted joy in moments. When you look back at this process, I would not have achieved anything without these players. The journey with this raw material, this talent. Spanish footballers, the way they compete. These players are amazing.”FORBES | By Michael LewisLegendary Messi Takes On Teen Star Yamal In World Cup FinalArgentina’s midfielder #24 Enzo Fernandez and Spain’s defender #22 Pau Cubarsi fight for the ball past Argentina’s goalkeeper #23 Emiliano Martinez during the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe result wasn’t easier said than doneSoccer is a sport in which a team can dominate a game and still lose if it doesn’t put away its chances, especially against a hot goalkeeper.For a good portion of Sunday’s encounter, the Argentines were kept afloat by an excellent performance by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. He produced 11 saves, some of them spectacular, frustrating Spain time and again.”If it wasn’t for their keeper, we might’ve had a larger win,” de la Fuente said.Spain did just about everything on the field but score. The European side shut down the Argentines’ midfield with its never-e